National Cheng Kung University hosts Hult Prize competition
國立成功大學舉辦霍特獎競賽
Annual student entrepreneur competition sees winning team representing Taiwan in agritech
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan’s National Cheng Kung University hosted the Taiwan round of the prestigious Hult Prize on Sunday, which challenges young people to develop solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.
Held annually since 2010, the competition is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for students,” with the winning team presented US$1 million (NT$32.3 million) in funding to launch a for-profit business that aligns with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), per a press release.
Preliminary competitions are held at more than 1,000 participating universities around the world, leading to second-stage national competitions, with winners invited to join incubator and accelerator programs before advancing to global finals in London.
In Taiwan, more than 200 teams participated in an open call and campus-based competitions, which yielded 19 winning teams. Later, this field was narrowed to six finalists who were invited to NCKU over two days (April 26-27), where they pitched their ideas before a panel of local and international judges.
Each team presented proposals addressing pressing issues ranging from climate technology, healthcare, food systems, biotech, and digital inclusion. Two teams from NCKU (FOVY and EcoFitae) advanced to the final round.
The Winning Team
The competitive final round featured a live Q&A session with judges providing critical feedback. Ultimately, judges awarded first place to Renaisun (Renewable Agriculture Solutions) from National Tsing Hua University, whose agritech proposal stood out for its innovation, execution, and potential for global impact.
The winning team will now represent Taiwan at the Hult Prize Global Accelerator, vying for a spot among as one of the top 25 global teams selected to go to London later this year.
Bank SinoPac Assistant Vice President at NCKU Branch Daniel Chang (張展嘉) said, “At SinoPac, we believe in the power of young minds to create solutions for the challenges we face today. We are committed to supporting initiatives that foster creativity, collaboration, and sustainable development. The Hult Prize is a perfect example of such an initiative, and we are proud to be part of it.”
Many VIPs attended the Hult Prize national competition at NCKU, including Alden Zecha, a global representative of the Hult Prize Foundation, and Samuel Goffman, Deputy Branch Chief at the American Institute in Taiwan. Meng Chih-cheng (蒙志成), chair of Tainan’s Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, was also in attendance.
Backing youth innovation
All pitches and presentations were conducted in English, reinforcing the international character of the event. In addition to the social enterprise pitch competition, the event featured “Hult Talks” from alumni startups, including a Hong Kong-based sustainable beer company, Breer, and Fabreco, a former finalist from National Chengchi University.
The talks were meant to share insights into navigating early-stage growth and building purpose-driven businesses. Participants in the competition were also treated to a cultural night that showcased local Tainan cuisine, a traditional lion dance, and a face-changing performance that showed how Taiwanese heritage can intersect with modern innovation and the entrepreneurial landscape.
“And for us at NCKU, co-hosting this National Round is more than an honor. It is a reflection of our commitment to nurturing future leaders and taking an active role in shaping Taiwan’s sustainability journey. We believe that universities must not only educate, but lead by example,” said Dr. Wu Ping-sheng (吳秉聲), senior vice president of NCKU.
As the host of this national competition, Wu said that NCKU reaffirms its commitment to nurturing youth-led innovation and promoting global leadership. He added that NCKU is proud to support youth innovation and global engagement.
